Progressive slide assembly



Dec. 8, 197i) R, @,sgm EII'AL- rnoenssgiig sLInE ASSEMBLY 1:21 sheets-sheet z Filed Feb. 14, 1969 STANLEY H. 'cols Y. HMM/MA;

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,545,833 PROGRESSIVE SLIDE ASSEMBLY Robert R. Stein, Mamaroneck, and Stanley H. Coe, Sloatsburg, N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Instrument Systems Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 14, 1969, Ser. No. 799,405 Int. Cl. A47b 88/00 U.S. Cl. 312-341 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A progressive three section drawer slide assembly has a continuous flexible strand loop interconnecting the cabinet track and intermediate track, so as to allow the intermediate track relative reciprocal movement. A latch coupled t0 the strand for movement with it, removably interconnects the drawer track and the intermediate track. The latch automatically uncouples the drawer track when the slide assembly is fully extended, so as to allow removal of the drawer, if desired.

This invention relates to a drawer slide structure, and more particularly to a progressive drawer slide structure of the full extension type.

Progressive slides oier obvious advantages over independent acting three section slides. Progressive slides are smooth acting, quieter and distribute the load more evenly over the sections.

There are in existence several types of progressive drawer slide assemblies. While many of these structures operate satisfactorily, they have disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that these slides ordinarily use additional rollers to provide the progressive movement of the intermediate slide. Oftentimes these rollers do not produce positive feed of the intermediate slide when the drawer carried a load. Hence, movement of the intermediate slide was erratic. Another such disadvantage is that these slides require substantial width to be durable and be progressive opening and closing. This increase in width requires the cabinet opening to be substantially larger than that of the drawer to allow such slide structure to be used, resulting in an increase of cabinet material, and a decrease of actual drawer space utilized. Also, progressive slides heretofore required complicated manufacturing processes, extra wheels, or the like, to achieve movement of the intermediate slide progressively with the drawer slide through the full length of the movement of the drawer into or out of its cabinet.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a progressive drawer slide assembly having minimum width dimension that is positive acting and is simple and durable in construction. Further, the present invention provides a drawer slide assembly which provides easier operation of the drawer between open and closed positions and at the same time provides for positive feed of the intermediate track or channel progressively with the drawer and uniformly throughout the full length of the sliding movement of the drawer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a progressive, full-extension drawer slide assembly that is efficient, effective, simple, quiet, easy-operating and positively-acting.

Another object 0f the present invention is to provide a mechanism to make a non-progressive slide progressiveacting in a simple manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a progressive slide assembly which is compact and which has a positive stop mechanism to avoid imparting stress to any one stop unit, and allows easy removal of the drawer with its drawer track from the remaining components of the drawer assembly and reassembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a latching mechanism for restraining the drawer track to progressive movement with respect to the intermediate track through sliding movement from drawer closed position to just prior to fully extended position and back.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon the reading of the following specication, by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein corresponding characters of reference refer to similar components in each of the several views in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a drawer slide assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a fragmentary part of a drawer of a cabinet being partially extended;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the drawer slide assembly shown in FIG. 1, in extended position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the strand assembly;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the slide assembly shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2.

This invention relates to a fixed outer tracks or channels, which are adapted to be secured to each side of the cabinet and aligned with a drawer opening formed therein. Drawer tracks are adapted to be secured to the sides of the drawer, which is received within the cabinet opening. Intermediate tracks or channels are positioned between the cabinet channels and the drawer tracks to allow full opening of the drawer. The intermediate channel is interconnected to the outer cabinet channel by means of a loop of a flexible continuous strand or cable, which is aixed to the cabinet channel and is mounted on spaced slides or rollers on the intermediate channel. A carrier is axed to the strand, such as by means of a clamp, so as to move with the cable. The carrier and cable move at twice the speed and twice the distance of the intermediate channel. A pivoting latch member is affixed to the carrier and engages the drawer track, so that movement of the drawer track moves the intermediate channel progressively via the sliding carrier and cable. The latch is automatically disengaged when the drawer track is in its fully extended position to allow removal of the drawer if desired.

As the drawer track is pushed or pulled towards or away from the xed cabinet channel, the cable assembly automatically moves the intermediate channel in the same general direction at one-half the speed and distance as the drawer track with both the intermediate channel and the drawer track reaching their limit stops simultaneously. The length of extension of the slide assembly is governed by varying the length of the ball spacer and track stop location and hence can be varied, within limits, relatively easily.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 10` represents a full extension slide, which is shown for illustrative purposes only, since many types of slides may have the progressive slide construction applied, which is the subject matter of this invention. Slide assembly 10 is used with a drawer 14, which is ordinarily mounted in a cabinet, shown in skeletal fashion at 16. Slide assembly 10 allows drawer 14 to be extensible with respect to cabinet 16 to a substantially fully opened position. While ordinarily a pair of such slide assemblies are used, only one is shown, since each is a mirror image of the other, and a description of the other would be merely a repetition.

Slide assembly 10 includes three tracks, specifically an outer or cabinet track 18 telescopically receiving an intermediate track 20, which telescopically receives an inner track or drawer track 22. Normally inner track 22 is affixed to drawer 14 or equipment by suitable screws or fasteners of some sort, not shown, in any convenient manner. Similarly, outer track 18 is athxed to cabinet 16 by screws, bolts, or the like, also not shown. Ordinarily, the cabinet and drawer tracks have openings through which these bolts or fasteners pass.

The cross section of the various tracks 18, 20 and 22 are generally channel-shaped for ease in receiving friction reducing elements. For reasons which will be discussed below, a space 23 is left between the flanges or drawer track 22 and intermediate track 20. Cabinet track 18, as shown, includes rolled upper and lower edges 24 and 26, respectively. Upper edge 24 forms a downwardly facing groove or slot, which receives rolling ball elements 28 that ride along the upper surface 30 formed by the rolled upper iiange edge on intermediate track 20. The balls 28 are retained in spaced relation in ball retainer or spacer 32. In a similar manner, the bottom edge portion 26 of track 18 has an upwardly facing groove or slot which receives rolling ball elements 28, which roll along the bottom surface 33 formed by the rolled bottom flange edge on intermediate track 20. Upper and lower edges 24 and 26 of cabinet tracks 18 are provided with depending flanges 34 at their forward ends to provide stops. Upper and lower edges 30 and 33 of intermediate track 20 are provided with depending flanges 36 at their rearward ends to provide stops. Ball spacer 32 is retained between the flanges 34 and 36 positioned at opposite ends of each of the passageways between the corresponding edges of outer track 18 and intermediate track 20. Intermediate track 20 is limited in forward movement by engagement of ball retainer 32 with flanges 34 and 36, as shown in FIG. 2.

Rotatably mounted on intermediate track 20 and spaced from the base of the channel of track 20 are a plurality of rollers 38 and 39, illustratively shown as 2. Rollers 38 and 39 are cooperatively received within the channel of inner or drawer track 22, as best seen in FIG. 3. One end of one of the horizontal edges 38a of inner track 22 has a normal or inwardly projecting ilange 40 along its outer edge to prevent rollers 38 and 39 from being displaced from edges 38a. A suitable stop mechanism is provided for limiting the forward movement of the drawer 14 and drawer track 22 and preventing complete detachment of the drawer track 22 from intermediate track 20. This includes, intermediate of the ends of inner track 22, a downwardly extending finger 42, which engages a cooperative projection `44 mounted on intermediate track 20 to provide a stop for inner track 22 at its desired fully extended position, as shown best in FIG. 2.

Intermediate track 20 has adjacent its rearward end a pulley or slide guide 50 attached thereto. Intermediate of the ends of intermediate track 20 and axially aligned with slide guide 50 is a second slide guide 52. Mounted about slide guides 50 and 52 is a strand or cable 54 having ends 56 and 58 aixed to outer track 18 as seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5. Strand 54 forms a loop about guides 50 and 52 and crosses adjacent ends 56 and 58, for reasons that are discussed below. Reciprocal movement of track 20 causes strand 54 to slide over guides 50 and 52 and move at twice the speed and twice the distance as track 20. -Reciprocal movement of strand 54 causes track 20 to move in the same direction at half the speed and half the distance as strand 54. Airixed to strand 54 is a carrier or block 60 slidably mounted in space 23 between the edges of intermediate track 20 and the edges of inner track 22 as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 6. Block 60` is aflixed to strand 54 by means of a set screw locking arrangement 62, or in another convenient manner. Pivotally mounted in a cutout slot 74 about a bearing 64 on block 60 is a pawl or lat'ch member 66. As shown best in FIG. 1, pawl 66 has a hooked end 68, which engages the edge of an opening, notch or slot 70 in the inner flange edge of track 22 to positively latch drawer 22 to block 60. Pawl 66 is biased to engage opening by gravity, or if desired, by spring action. When slide assembly 10 is fully extended and stop finger 42 engages stop arm 44 to prevent further outward movement of slide assembly 10, pawl 66 engages roller 39, which pivots pawl 66 clockwise about pivot point 64, so as to disengage pawl end 68y from opening 70, as viewed best in FIG. 2. To insure disengagement of pawl 66 from track 22, even if roller 39 may be rotating clockwise, a latch release protrusion 72 is mounted on intermediate track 20 to engage pawl 66 and urge it clockwise about pivot point 64, so as to release it from opening 70. With pawl 66 disengaged from opening 70 on track 22, inner track 22 can be removed from inntermediate track 20 by lifting drawer 14 upwardly an amount sufficient to allow finger 42 to be lifted over arm 44.

Block 60 attached to strand 54 slides between intermediate track 20 and inner track 22 when drawer 14 is moved inwardly or outwardly and moves uniformly at twice the speed and twice the distance as intermediate track 20. Since inner track 22 is positively connected to block 60 by means of pawl `66 cooperating with opening or notch 70, inner track 22 moves at same speed and distance as block 60.

In operation, when drawer 14 is opened, inner track 22 is moved forward, which moves block 60 forward by reason of pawl 66 engaging opening 70. Movement of block 60 moves the loop formed by strand 54 forward which in turn moves intermediate track 20l forward at one half the speed and distance of inner track 22, by reason of strand 54 sliding over guides 50 and 52. At full extension, when stops 42 and 44 engage, and ball retainer 32 engages flanges 34 and 36, pawl 66 is automatically disengaged from opening 70. In closing drawer 14, as soon as pawl 66 is free of engagement with roller 39 and protrusion 72, it falls into opening 70 by reason of gravity, and latches block 60 to inner track 22 for movement therewith.

Advantageously, block `60 is channel-shaped to fit between tracks 20 and 22, and made of a hard, durable material, which is self-lubricating, such as nylon or Teflon. Also, as seen, advantageously block 60 has a cutout portion 76 aligned with slide guide 52, which allows it to move further forwardly with respect to slide guide 52, as shown in FIG. 2. Slide guide 52 is positioned intermediate of the ends of track 20, which position is determined by roller 39 and the forward movement of block `60. Block 60 by carrying pawl 66 must move close enough to roller 39, so that roller 39 engages pawl 66 and pivots it counterclockwise.

The present construction provides for Overtravel of the drawer and still maintaining progressive movement of the sections with only minor changes in the positioning of projection 44 and adjusting spacers 32 between the outer and intermediate tracks 18 and 20. Overtravel allows full opening of the drawer, so that the drawer interior is beyond the cabinet, as well as any overhanging top. Overtravel permits full utilization of, and accessibility into the drawer. The crossed over strand ends 56 and 58 allow greater forward movement of track 22 with less of a loop of strand 54. The crossed ends 56 and 58 prevent slack in the loop formed by strand 54, if the loop were merely increased in length to permit Overtravel.

Strand 54 is made of a strong flexible material, such as metal or plastic. While pawl 66 is shown being disengaged by roller 39 and protrusion 72, only one is needed.

While slide assembly 10 is shown using friction-reducing elements, none need be used, such as solid bearing slides.

The novel construction achieves positive progressive action between the drawer and intermediate tracks. Slide assemblies without strand 54 or block 60 may be made and used, so as not to be progressive-acting, but which slides can easily be converted to be progressive-acting by adding the strand and block. Thisallows exibility in production.

Other advantages than those specifically cited may occur to those in the art studying the particular preferred form of the embodiment illustrated.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred form shown, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A progressive slide assembly, comprising a cabinet channel, a drawer track, and an intermediate channel, said intermediate channel and drawer track being telescopically movable in generally parallel relation, said intermediate channel having two spaced apart portions, a flexible strand connected to said cabinet channel between said two spaced apart portions and passing about and movably contacting said two spaced apart portions, so that movement of said intermediate channel moves said strand at an increased proportionate rate, and latching means'coupled to said strand and cooperatively engaging said drawer track, so that said drawer track and said intermediate channel move in the same direction in relation to the cabinet channel, and the drawer track moves at an increased proportionate speed and distance than the intermediate channel.

2. A progressive slide assembly as in claim 1, wherein said strand is a cable having its ends fixed to said cabinet channel.

3. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the portions of said cable adjacent its ends are crossed.

4. A progressive slide assembly, as in claim 2, wherein said spaced apart portions are a pair of spaced apart slide guides mounted on the intermediate channel facing away from said cabinet channel and about which said cable passes.

5. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including a carrier alTixed to said strand for movement therewith, and said latching means including a pawl being pivotally mounted on said carrier, and a notch in said drawer track for engaging said pawl.

6. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said pawl is biased toward latching position, and means mounted on said intermediate channel for engaging said pawl and disengaging said pawl from said notch when said drawer track is in its fully extended position, said means lifting said pawl against its bias and allowing removal of said drawer track from said intermediate channel.

7. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said disengaging means is a protrusion extending from said intermediate channel, said protrusion and said pawl being mutually engaging.

8. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including rolling elements for providing relative movement between said cabinet channel and said intermediate channel, and between said drawer track and said intermediate channel.

9. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said strand is loop-like.

10. A progressive slide assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including limit stops for securing the desired extension of the drawer, said stop means including a rst finger mounted on said intermediate channel adjacent its forward end and a second finger mounted on said track adjacent its rear end, said stops being adapted to engage at the selected drawer track extension.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,043 12/1913 Bradner 108-87 2,346,167 4/1944 Jones et al 30s-3.8 2,559,380 7/1951 wikman 312-348X 2,805,106 9/1957 Penkaia 312-341X 3,074,766 I1/1963 Meyer 31a-348x 3,131,982 5/1964 Bullock 312-339 3,385,639 5/1968 Aiken 1084-87 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,046 2/1969 Switzerland 312-341 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 308-3 .6 

